The Current State of Matcha on IppodoTea.com
Matcha’s popularity has steadily grown over the years, but in recent months, demand has surged beyond all expectations. (If you’re one of the ones new to Ippodo, welcome! We’re so glad to have you here.)
As a result, all of our matcha varieties are currently limited and sell out quickly after restocking. Given these circumstances, we are prioritizing the availability of our core matcha blends to ensure consistent access for as many people as possible. To achieve this, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily limit the number of varieties and quantities available.
Here’s what’s changing:
- Some blends—Kanza, Kuon, Seiun/Shoin, and Hatsu—will be temporarily unavailable.
- Matcha purchases will be limited to 12 units per customer every 60 days.
We wish we could produce enough matcha for everyone to enjoy freely, but increasing production isn’t as simple as it may seem. Two key factors limit supply:
- Matcha is harvested only once a year. The teas used in Ippodo’s blends are picked in late spring, and farmers cannot harvest more on demand. The annual supply is determined well in advance.
- High-quality matcha production is a slow, precise process. Traditional stone mills grind only about 40g of matcha per hour, and specialized matcha-processing machines are limited in number. Increasing production speed would compromise quality.
We sincerely apologize to our dedicated customers and newcomers for the current difficulty in purchasing matcha. While we do not yet have a timeline for when matcha will become more readily available, we will continue offering each variety as frequently as possible.
If you have any questions, please reach out via the chat window or email us through our contact page.
Thank you for your continued support and enjoyment of Ippodo Tea.
